Orange County Bar Association

March 2026 President’s Page - Investing in Justice: The OCBA Charitable Fund’s Commitment to Equal Justice for All

For a complete list of Orange County Lawyer magazine President's Page columns, please click here.

by Shirin Forootan

Investing in Justice: The OCBA Charitable Fund’s Committee to Equal Justice for All

As members of the legal profession, we are entrusted with more than advocacy for our clients. We are also stewards of the justice system itself. One of the most meaningful ways the Orange County Bar Association fulfills that responsibility is through its philanthropic arm, the OCBA Charitable Fund, an organization devoted to strengthening our system of justice and expanding access to it for those most in need.

Founded in 1995, the OCBA Charitable Fund is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. It operates independently with its own Board of Directors, which includes the OCBA’s President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In keeping with the OCBA’s five‑year leadership ladder, the Immediate Past President of the OCBA serves as President of the Charitable Fund, ensuring continuity, accountability, and institutional knowledge.

The mission of the OCBA Charitable Fund is clear and enduring: to provide resources to organizations and programs that enhance the system of justice and promote equal justice for all. That mission is not aspirational. It is operationalized every year through deliberate fundraising, rigorous grant review, and transparent distribution of funds.

Each February, the Charitable Fund hosts its annual Grant Giving Reception, during which every dollar raised from the prior year’s charitable events is awarded to law-related organizations and programs in Orange County dedicated to advancing access to justice and equal justice for all. The two principal fundraising events are the spring Golf Tournament and the summer Raise Your Glass fundraiser, both of which fuel this effort in their own unique way.

The 2025 grant cycle was a record‑setting year, made possible by the extraordinary leadership of our Past President, Christina Zabat‑Fran, whose efforts helped raise $240,000 for Orange County–based charitable organizations. The Annual Golf Tournament, held on April 29, 2025, at Monarch Beach Golf Links, was a sold-out event and a memorable day enjoyed by all participants. The OCBA Charitable Fund raised $117,694 for charities from that golf tournament!

The Raise Your Glass, Wine Tasting & Charity Awards Benefit, held on August 14, 2025, was a tremendous success, featuring record participation from regional wineries and an unprecedented number of auction items. The OCBA Charitable Fund raised $268,712 for charities from that benefit! These two highly successful fundraising events last year each reflected the strong support and engagement of the Orange County legal community.

Grant recipients are carefully selected through an application process that prioritizes justice-focused organizations helping underserved populations in Orange County.

Past grant recipients include (in alphabetical order): Collaborative Courts Foundation, Community Legal Aid SoCal, Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County, Elder Law & Disability Rights Center, Human Options, Laura’s House, Project Youth OC, Public Law Center, Radiant Futures, UC Irvine School of Law, and Veterans Legal Institute.

As we look ahead, I encourage every member of our legal community to support these and other legal-related nonprofits. I invite you to mark your calendar now and join us at our Spring Golf Tournament on April 27th at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club and our Raise Your Glass fundraiser on August 20th at Newport Beach Country Club.

To learn more about the OCBA Charitable Fund or view our 2026 Board of Directors, please visit www.ocbacf.org.

Shirin Forootan, is President of the OCBA and founding attorney and mediator at Forootan Law and Forootan ADR. She can be reached at sforootan@ocbar.org.